Umbrel for Windows

Umbrel for Windows is a small app that lives in the notification area of your taskbar. It finds your Umbrel on your network and adds your shared folders to File Explorer as network drives, so you can drag files to and from your Umbrel like any other drive. It also opens umbrelOS in your browser with one click, and keeps your folders connected over Tailscale when you're away from home.

What you'll need

• A PC running Windows 11, or Windows 10 version 2004 or later. The app is built for 64-bit (x64) PCs.
• An Umbrel running umbrelOS 2.0 or later.
• Your Umbrel account name and password. If you're a member rather than the owner, the owner needs to turn on Allow file sharing (SMB) for you in Settings > Users.

Download and install

1. Download the app from link.umbrel.com/windows-app.
2. Open the downloaded Umbrel.appinstaller file and click Install.
3. If Umbrel doesn't open on its own, open it from the Start menu. An Umbrel icon appears in the notification area of your taskbar. If you don't see it, click the arrow next to the clock to show hidden icons.

The app doesn't have a regular window or a taskbar button. Everything happens in a small panel that opens from the notification area icon.

The app turns on Run at startup the first time you open it, so it's always ready. You can turn this off by right-clicking the notification area icon.

Connect to your Umbrel

1. Click the Umbrel icon in the notification area. The app searches your network for Umbrels.
2. Choose your Umbrel.
3. If your Umbrel has more than one user, choose your name.
4. Enter your umbrelOS password, and your 2FA code if you have two-factor authentication turned on.

Your shared folders appear in File Explorer as network drives, and Windows picks a drive letter for each one. You don't need to enter a separate file sharing username or password. The app handles that for you.

If you haven't shared any folders yet, the app offers to Share your entire Home folder. You can also choose what to share in umbrelOS under Settings > File sharing. See Accessing your files from other devices.

If your Umbrel is brand new, the app sends you to your browser to set it up. When you're done, come back to the app to connect.

If the app can't find your Umbrel

Click Can't find your Umbrel? Connect by address and enter your Umbrel's IP address or hostname. You can find its IP address in umbrelOS under Settings, next to Local IP. If you're away from home, use its Tailscale IP address or MagicDNS name. Tailscale must already be set up on your PC and your Umbrel.

Using the app

Click the notification area icon to:

• See whether your Umbrel is connected, and whether it's connected over your local network or Tailscale.
• Open umbrelOS in your browser from the addresses under Access umbrelOS.
• See your shared folders, open one in File Explorer, and reconnect any that dropped.
• Disconnect your shared folders.

Right-click the notification area icon for About Umbrel, Check for updates..., Run at startup, and Exit.

The app checks your connection every minute, after your PC wakes from sleep, and when your network changes, and reconnects any shared folders that dropped. Exiting the app doesn't disconnect your drives from File Explorer. They stay connected until you sign out of Windows, and the app picks them back up the next time it opens.

If the notification area icon changes to a crossed-out umbrella, the app can't reach your Umbrel.

The gear next to Access umbrelOS opens Browser settings, where you can turn on Always use HTTPS locally. Some apps need HTTPS in the browser to work correctly. See Accessing your Umbrel over HTTPS.

Using it away from home

If Tailscale is set up on both your PC and your Umbrel, the app keeps your shared folders connected through Tailscale when you're away. See Remote access to set up Tailscale.

When Tailscale is running, the app may use it even at home. The status then shows Tailscale instead of Local network. This is normal.

Updates

The app checks for updates on its own and lets you know when one is ready. Click Install update to install it, and Umbrel reopens when it's done. You can also check manually by right-clicking the notification area icon and choosing Check for updates....

If you change your file sharing password

If you change your file sharing password in umbrelOS, your Umbrel disconnects devices that were using the old one. The Windows app notices within about a minute and reconnects your folders with the new password on its own.

Security

The app stores its login securely on your PC, encrypted for your Windows user account. Your umbrelOS password is never saved. It appears as Umbrel for Windows in your Umbrel's active logins, where you can log it out at any time.

Troubleshooting

• "Session expired." Your login was removed or expired. Click the notification area icon and enter your password again.
• "Device is offline." Make sure your Umbrel is on and your PC is on the same network or connected to Tailscale, then click Connect.
• A folder shows "Reconnect". Click it to reconnect. If it keeps dropping, check that your Umbrel is on and your PC is on the same network or connected to Tailscale.
• "Some shared folders couldn't be disconnected." Close any files you have open from your Umbrel, then try again.
• "There are no free drive letters." Disconnect a drive you don't need, then try again.
• "Windows is already connected to this Umbrel with a different username." This can happen if you connected a drive to your Umbrel by hand. Disconnect its other drives, then try again.
• "This Umbrel needs to be updated before it can connect to the app." Update umbrelOS to version 2.0 or later.
• "Couldn't verify this Umbrel." This can happen after your Umbrel is reset, reinstalled, or restored from a backup. Use Forget device in the app, then connect again.
• You're a member and see no folders. Ask the owner to turn on Allow file sharing (SMB) for you in Settings > Users.